Selected Homilies, 2006–2007, Cycle-C

Fourteenth Sunday 2006

Two weeks ago I was in Fortaleza Brazil for a liturgy conference with
Jesuits from around the world. One of the reasons for the venue in the
north of Brazil was the work of the Jesuits with the local people in parishes
and “base Communities”. Base communities are clusters of committed
Christians who pray and share faith with each other in order to have an
intimate and personal experience of Christian community. At times these
various small communities of faith would join together to celebrate the
Eucharist together. One of the most powerful experiences we had in Brazil
was participating in on e of the weeknight Eucharist celebrated by these
base communities.

I wish you could have been there to experience the energy, enthusiasm,
spirit filled nature of this Eucharist. Hundreds of people of all ages
crowded into this simple church to celebrate their faith in God and Jesus
Christ. This was no correctly executed and lifeless ritual performed by
the priest and a few ministers. No the whole community was singing, moving,
praying, animated by the Holy Spirit. This spirit was contagious and even
though the songs and prayers were in Portuguese, you couldn’t help
but join in singing and moving to the rhythms of the music. You just couldn’t
help yourself! That’s how contagious the spirit was.

And I forgot to mention, these people were materially poor. Their lives,
homes, meals, all of the material things of life would not add up to much
by our standards. I can’t imagine anyone there having a credit card
or a bank account but the spiritual wealth in that church was abundant.
These people know that they possess something more than all the money in
the world could buy. They share in a powerful and immediate way in the
salvation that Christ brings. Like St. Paul their lives echo the strength
and power that comes from Christ himself. “My grace is enough for
you, for in weakness power reaches perfection.. And so I willingly boast
of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” These
folks were not afraid or embarrassed to express their faith in the Good
News of Jesus Christ. They were truly “Evangelical”, meaning
that they are alive in Christ Jesus and his good news of the Reign of God.

In today’s gospel the family, friends, neighbors of Jesus, the Nazareth
folk are “embarrassed” by Jesus. In other stories in Mark’s
Gospel his family think that he is out of his mind and want to bring him
to his senses so that he won’t be am embarrassment to them. Jesus’ proclamation
of what God’s kingdom is really like and Jesus’ own actions
of healing and forgiving as signs of that Kingdom are just too much for
the people. They feel that he is making a public spectacle of himself and
they are embarrassed by him.

This gospel and the “evangelical” celebration of the Eucharist
in Brazil with the poor prompt me to ask if we are ever “embarrassed” by
Jesus and our faith in him. We come from a Catholic culture where our faith
tends to be “private’, something between God and me or Jesus
and me. It also tends to be something that is relegated to an hour on Sunday
that feels like a good thing to do so that we get some reflection time
in our very busy week but how comfortable are we with professing our faith
outside of this context. How comfortable are we speaking of Jesus as the
center of our lives, as the one who knows and loves us and redeems us with
power and grace. How evangelical are we willing to be so that others might
know we are disciples of Jesus. Of course, professing faith in words is
empty without the actions that reveal Christ’s charity and compassion.

I’m sure you know of people who have left the Catholic community
because they find in Evangelical expressions of faith a more personal,
intimate and authentic expression of the spirit. This “gospel faith” is
not afraid or embarrassed to speak of Christ as Lord and Savior. This gospel
faith is wants the word of God and the power of God in Jesus Christ to
be “seen” and not hidden, wants to go public and not remain
private.

My question tonight is, Are we embarrassed by this “show of faith” or
in fact isn’t that what we are called to? Not in a way that alienates
others but that finds appropriate ways to live the faith more fully. Aren’t
we called as disciples of Jesus to make known his power and his presence
in our lives?

Think about it. Are there ways in which each of us can be more open and
transparent about the work that the Spirit is doing in each one of us?
Find the ways for you. It could make an amazing difference in the way you
live your life.